Remember back in 2009 when I was newly married and getting ready for our first overseas adventure? Funny how long ago that seems. Well, back before we shipped out, one of the posts that prompted a lot of conversation was the one I wrote about our Escape Bag or “Go Bag†as we now call it. In that post, I shared a funny story about my introduction to Go Bags. Do re-read it, I promise a good laugh.
For those who don’t remember (or who haven’t know us that long), it’s essentially a bag that has all your vital documents in it so in the event that you have to evacuate immediately (say due to a natural disaster or escalating violence), you just grab your “Go Bag†and hit the road. Easy peasy. At first I resisted the concept because it meant that I had to accept that there was the chance that we could end up in a dangerous place or natural disaster. I’m much more accepting now – I think surviving my first typhoon in Manila helped. :)
Well, yesterday a friend inquired about what was in ours after reading about the fires that swept across Fort McMurray, Alberta. I thought this would be a great moment to share exactly what’s in our Go Bag and to encourage you to get your own done.
Let’s get to it.
Ours has 4 folders in it, each with a different category of paperwork.
Folder 1: Wills and Advance Directives. This was another thing we did back in 2009 that was hard for me to do at first (because it meant thinking about dying) but I’m so glad we have it in place. If you don’t have one, make THIS the month you’re going to get it done. You can hire a lawyer or get inexpensive will planning software. Save your loved ones the pain of agonizing end-of-life decisions by making your wishes clear now. [ Steps down from soapbox ]
Folder 2: Medical Records. This is primarily our vaccine records, but occasionally I’ll keep recent results from lab appointments or annual physicals.
Folder 3: Personal Records. This file includes:
- Birth Certificates (including extra copies)
- Baptism Certificates
- First Communion Certificates
- Confirmation Certificates
- Marriage License and Certificates (including extra copies)
- Social Security Cards
- College Transcripts
Folder 4: Property Documents. This file includes:
- Car Titles
- Mortgage Documents
- Apartment Leases
- Vehicle Registration
The final thing that’s in our Go Bag is our passports. Obviously.
Back in 2009, I got a mesh zip-up 9 x 13 pouch at the Container Store. I don’t see that item listed there anymore, but here are a few similar options on Amazon:
So there you have it. Yes, it’s a bit of work to put together but it’s totally worth the piece of mind you’ll get on the back end. Feel free to ask questions in the comments.
Also, is there anything in yours that I didn’t mention? If you haven’t done one, what’s holding you back?
I also put most of this in the cloud. :)
Yeah, us too. Always a good idea!
I think I may have to put mine together! Love the picture…you look great with your go bag! Been thinking about you, looking forward to reading about you new adventures!
7 years and I’m still looking pretty much the same. Guess that’s a good thing! :) Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts. The next few weeks are going to be a wild ride.